A Nineteenth-Century Duchess [Steampunk]

Qi Zhu transmigrated into a stretch of history that had never happened.

In the 18th century, Babbage invented the Difference Engine, sparking the Industrial Revolution in machinery, and magi became the backbone of the military;

In the early 19th century, Cuvier resurrected extinct creatures, and the Empire of Ancient Beasts rose to power;

In the mid-19th century, Darwin's resurrection technology forged the legend of the Undying Corpse Empire.

Qi Zhu became the duke's daughter who was about to marry the prince of the Corpse Empire: Jovera von Tigulechav.

Fourteen-year-old Qi Zhu was covered in wounds. Her face was the only unblemished part of her, and she had been forced to dress up like an exquisite, tattered doll.

The duke held a whip and said arrogantly,

"Don't even think about running away, Jovera, you stupid donkey. Even if the man you're marrying is a corpse, you still have to bear that corpse's child before you die."

At thirty-four, Qi Zhu bore the names of father-killer, mother-killer, brother-killer, and husband-killer. Crowned in splendid robes, she gazed impassively at the subjects beneath her.

They knelt before her:

"If humanity is to contend with giant beasts and corpses, then it needs a great person to lead the way. Grand Duchess of Tigulechav, without question, that great person is you."

They raised their arms and cried,

"Everything for Jovera von Tigulechav!"

*

In this war-torn wilderness where steel, giant beasts, and corpses vie for supremacy, would you choose to become the grease in the gears, or a carcass for creatures to feed on?

Qi Zhu chose neither.

She had no ambition and sought neither fame nor fortune.

She simply killed everyone who stood in the way of her survival, and cleared away everything that threatened it.

Thus, war bowed before her, and a legend was born of fate.

*

Theme: Survival and civilization